Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
badly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Bureau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
chat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
chelae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
composed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
concerning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
CRISIS
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From this reading CRISIS!
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
decreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
Diplomacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
female
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
forgiven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
Girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Guide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
incompetents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Karfiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Martian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
Matriarchy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
mess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
obeyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
Plenipotentiary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
rights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
ropy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
sabre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
screwball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
senseless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Serene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
snapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
space-mining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
stuff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
tentacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
trimming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
Venusian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
Venusians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the Karfiness hadn't cut herself badly while she was trimming her chelae one morning the whole mess might never have happened.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading That was why her temper was short that morning, and why she snapped at the Venusian Plenipotentiary who had come to chat with her concerning the space-mining rights for the following year.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the Diplomacy Bureau at home is composed of hopeless incompetents, the Venusians are rattling the sabre, and it looks as if an utterly senseless war is going to result, a little screwball stuff can be forgiven--if it works!
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But fashion decreed that the ropy circle of tentacles about the neck of the female Martian would be worn short that year, and everybody in the Matriarchy, from Girl Guide to the Serene Karfiness herself, obeyed without question.
